City seeks new rules for public art projects

Jason Markusoff and Michael Wright, Calgary Herald05.16.2014

The Blue Ring public art project on the 96th Avenue connection to Airport Trail, which proved controversial. The city will next June try out a forum for public feedback on specific art projects.Colleen De Neve
/ Calgary Herald

The Blue Ring public art project on the 96th Avenue connection to Airport Trail, which proved controversial. The city will next June try out a forum for public feedback on specific art projects.Colleen De Neve
/ Calgary Herald

City spending on beautifying new infrastructure such as the airport tunnel and the west LRT line would be reined in under proposed new rules for funding Calgary’s public art projects.

Currently, one per cent of any public construction project’sbudget, no matter its size, is earmarked for public art. The city’s recommendednew policy, released Thursday, suggests applying the one per cent rule to thefirst $50 million of a project. Any amount above that warrants 0.5 per cent setaside.

The total art budget would be capped at $4 million for any one project.

Councillor Shane Keating said a new funding structure was essential to avoid huge arts contributions on big-ticket items.

“On massive projects you could end up spending tens of millions of dollars. That had to change because we couldn’t afford to look at that amount of public art.”

If such a funding model had been in place when council approved the airport tunnel — which carries a $166-million construction cost — only $1.08 million would have been set aside for public art, not the $1.66 million it’s currently due.

On the west LRT project — total construction cost $860 million — public art funding would have stopped at the $4 million cap. Under the current funding structure, $8.6 million is earmarked for public art.

The city also recommended expanding the number of people on project juries — those who select an artist and a design for a public art project — from five people to seven. A pair of “citizens-at-large” would be added to panels currently dominated by people with professional arts expertise.

“To have different eyes, from outside the arts bubble ... that had to happen,” Keating said.

“I think there has to be some experts but, sometimes, that’s not the best decision-making model.”

Coun. Druh Farrell said there was a desire around the council table to improve the city’s public arts policy.

“(Councillors) worked together on the notice of motion. We all compromised. The public art policy is almost a decade old. It’s important to review its efficacy from time to time. I believe this makes it a stronger policy. It achieves a balance.”

Farrell welcomed the plan to include the public in developing the final strategy and the decision to support local artists to ensure they were equipped to compete against international bidders for art projects in Calgary.

“Some of them haven’t developed the skills to be able to compete with international artists in bidding for public art projects.”

A report on the proposed plan will go before the city’s priorities and finance committee on May 20.

Other recommendations include:

-The artists would be engaged as the project is being developed, not after, and artists can consult with the public early on.

-Private contributions be accepted in some cases to add funds to “create iconic and monumental works of public art.”

-Using public art dollars for heritage restoration or enhancement on some projects. (For art along the west LRT line, council has agreed to incorporate the 98-year-old lion sculptures that used to sit on the Centre Street Bridge).

-Art having a functional purpose, such as a bench or bike rack.

-Public Art division will offer training, mentorship and education for local artists if “it can be adequately supported through available resources.”

-The city will next June try out a forum for public feedback on specific art projects. Details are yet to be finalized.

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